Another scam produces the same advice: Do Not Send Money

A man from Inyokern won $500,000 from Publisher's Clearing House, but to get the money he had to sign a series of documents or, first send the money to the Internal Revenue Service and then wait for the money.

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By Mike BodineSTAFF WRITERmbodine@ridgecrestca.com

Ridgecrest Daily Independent - Ridgecrest, CA

By Mike BodineSTAFF WRITERmbodine@ridgecrestca.com

Posted Jun. 26, 2013 at 1:36 PM
Updated Jun 26, 2013 at 1:37 PM

By Mike BodineSTAFF WRITERmbodine@ridgecrestca.com

Posted Jun. 26, 2013 at 1:36 PM
Updated Jun 26, 2013 at 1:37 PM

A man from Inyokern won $500,000 from Publisher's Clearing House, but to get the money he had to sign a series of documents or, first send the money to the Internal Revenue Service and then wait for the money. When Charles Reynertson asked the people on the phone claiming to be from Publisher's Clearing House for a contact number, the phone eventually went silent then dead. Reynertson had thwarted a scam. Reynertson is even a sweepstake's player, but how the scammers knew that is anyone's guess.

A representative from PCH's Scam Hotline said the sweepstakes does not contact winners by phone, e-mail, or fax, but the balloon-filled in-person surprise, "Just like on TV."

Ridgecrest Police Department Captain Paul Wheeler said Monday that it may be a coincidence that the scammers knew Reynertson was a player. PCH's representatives had no comment on the connection. Wheeler said there are many different scams circulating in many different forms, but the promises being offered are almost always too good to be true.

Reynertson explained the phone call in detail. He said a man claimed to be from PCH, gave the name Daniel Fisher, and said Reynertson had won $500,000. Reynertson said Fisher asked for some general details, like mailing address, age and whether or not he still owed on his mortgage. Fisher explained Reynertson could receive the money by two options. The money could be sent to the IRS and a total of $216,000 in taxes would be taken out and the remainder deposited into his bank account, or Reynertson had two documents to fill out and sign. Reynertson said he told Fisher he wanted to talk with his accountant or his bank before going any further. Fisher told Reynertson that wasn't a good idea. Fisher then told Reynertson a story of another winner who had told a friend about his PCH winnings before receiving the actual prize. Fisher said the friend contacted PCH, claiming to be the winner, and took off with the prize, leaving the actual winner with nothing. Reynertson said he told Fisher he wanted the money sent to the IRS and then asked Fisher for a contact number. Fisher's line then fell silent and the line disconnected.

The PCH representative said this kind of story is pretty standard for scammers; the scammer does not want the person they're trying to scam to tell anyone what is going on.

Wheeler gave a few simple, yet effective, tips for people to avoid being a victim: spend as little time as possible with the people on the phone, never give out personal information, never, ever send money and to contact local law enforcement to report the incident. Wheeler said that even if a report isn't taken for a particular case, the police are made aware of the scam. Wheeler added that the majority of scams originate internationally, be it Canada with lax telecommunication laws, Africa or beyond. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Secret Service both have scam hotlines.

Page 2 of 2 - PCH said all cases of scams or fraud using its name, are filed into a Scam Database that is shared with the Federal Trade Commission and then to local law enforcement. The PCH representative said the best defense against scammers is to simply hang up the phone.

"We want everybody to be cautious of people asking for money, or telling, people they've won money, Wheeler said.